Solved Won't let me delete old files

[degge]

Windows 7 Home Premium.

I've got a bunch of old files from when I had XP (stupid enough not to format C: before installing Windows 7) and these Adobe files which has no point in existing cannot be deleted. So basicly; I want to delete old files from XP in the Program directory, it says I need Administrator's "approval" or whatever and I can't remove it.

I have UAC down to zero, yet it's bugging me about how I need to have Administrator access.

4 .dll files and a .SVE file and they're taking less than 1 MB space. I can't find them in regedit and there's nothing in Remove Programs.

There's only once Administrator account which I'm logged into, and it's the first account to be ever created. I read something about a secret Admin account but since I have Home Premium I wasn't allowed/couldn't use the tools required to find it.

Please help, I have no idea of what to do next.

 

[Saltgrass]

If you are sure you do not need them, try deleting in Safe mode. You also might be able to move them to another location and delete from there. If some utility is using them, of course it will not let you delete for that reason. Hopefully there is no virus involved.

If you are not sure about them being needed, try changing the name or leave them in the recycle bin until you know for sure.

How did the files get there in the first place? Since you had to do a custom install, all the WinXP files should be been placed in a Windows.old folder, which can be deleted if no longer needed.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hi Degge, Welcome to Seven Forum,

First thing is that make sure your are not deleting any system files that might damage your OS. Some file you might need to Take Ownership. If it says its used by another process or program you could use Unlocker and see what program if it's not anything part of Windows 7 or any application that Windows 7 uses please don't delete it. I guess it's advisable to create Restore Point before you do.

Hope this helps

 

[seavixen32]

Degge, you can gain access to the built-in administrator with Windows 7 Home Premium.

1. Click Start.
2. Type cmd in the search field.
3. Right-click cmd in the list that appears and choose Run as Administrator
4. The Command Prompt Window will open.
5. At the command prompt, type net user administrator /active:yes paying particular attention to where the spaces are.
6. Press Enter to run the command.
7. Type Exit then press Enter again to close the command prompt window.
8. Restart your computer and there should be two user account icons on your desktop. One will be for your account, the other will be the built-in administrator account.
9. When you've done what you want to do you can disable the built-in admin account with this command:
net user administrator /active:no

 

[MacGyvr]

You've got bigger problems if you didn't format when you installed. You need to consider doing a complete clean install to avoid bigger issues and performance degradation.

 

[degge]

Thanks, but it's all good and I don't even remember having this issue.

I've got 64-bit now and those files doesn't exist any longer.